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Matchstick Men
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Matchstick Men (2003) More at IMDbPro »

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Matchstick Men (2003) -- Pre, "This Summer"
Matchstick Men (2003) -- hv-post

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   40,652 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 8% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Ridley Scott
Writers (WGA):
Eric Garcia (book)
Nicholas Griffin (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Matchstick Men on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 September 2003 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama | Crime | Thriller more
Tagline:
lie cheat steal rinse repeat
Plot:
A phobic con artist and his protege are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the con artist's teenage daughter arrives unexpectedly. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(23 articles)
Moon Review
 (From Screen Rant. 10 June 2009, 1:51 PM, PDT)

Drag Me To Hell Review
 (From FilmJunk. 31 May 2009, 11:15 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Welcome back, Nick more
US TV Schedule:
Thur. July 236:00 AMUSA   

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Nicolas Cage ... Roy Waller

Sam Rockwell ... Frank Mercer

Alison Lohman ... Angela

Bruce Altman ... Dr. Klein

Bruce McGill ... Chuck Frechette

Jenny O'Hara ... Mrs. Schaffer

Steve Eastin ... Mr. Schaffer

Beth Grant ... Laundry Lady

Sheila Kelley ... Kathy
Fran Kranz ... Slacker Boyfriend

Tim Kelleher ... Bishop

Nigel Gibbs ... Holt
Bill Saito ... Pharmacist #1

Tim Maculan ... Pharmacist #2

Stoney Westmoreland ... Man in Line
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, violence, some sexual content and language.
Runtime:
116 min | Canada:120 min (Toronto International Film Festival)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor) | Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Alison Lohman went to the audition dressed and acted like a 14-year-old girl. Ridley Scott only realized her real age when she told him. She was 22 at the time. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Angela and Roy are fighting outside in the street, she's wearing a necklace that has stones on it and a slight "V". Once they come back inside, the necklace has changed to a simple thin choker. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Roy: Uno, due, tre.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Tricks of the Trade: Making 'Matchstick Men' (2004) (V) more
Soundtrack:
Antigua Capitana more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
40 out of 44 people found the following comment useful:-
Welcome back, Nick, 24 May 2005
8/10

A rather surprising turn for Ridley Scott there - probably the "smallest" film he's ever done, which harks back to Thelma And Louise than to anything else he's done in recent years (Gladiator, G.I Jane, Black Hawk Down, and back to Alien and Blade Runner). We have a very personal, up-close light drama here. Con artist movies have been swarming the theaters lately, but Matchstick Men is far more intelligent and more surprising, not to mention well-acted, written and directed, than Supercast films Heist and The Score. Nicolas Cage, after several years of B-action movies (Gone In 60 Seconds, 8 mm, The Rock, Face/Off...) makes a welcome return to what he does best - disturbed, neurotic, sensitive individuals (a comeback that got off to a good start on the schizophrenic Adaptation) - and delivers an Oscar nomination-worthy performance as con artist Roy Waller. Roy discovers a long-lost daughter, played brilliantly by Alison Lohman - also Oscar material. The relationship between the two is well crafted, and the story wonderfully written. Sam Rockwell also makes a fine contribution as Roy's partner.

Elements of the plot may owe much to many other films - The Sting, perhaps Jacky Brown, and there's a bit of Leon (AKA The Professional) in Roy's relationship with his daughter, trying to balance a life of crime with a newfound family, and Lohman's performance is no less charming than that of Natalie Portman on that memorable classic. Worthy of praise is Ridley's directing, which proves he can make a small human theater piece as well as grandiose historical epics and sci-fi odysseys. The editing is wonderful, well visualizing Roy's condition and giving the movie an apt atmosphere. Overall, Matchstick Men is one of the freshest films of the year, and a very enjoyable watch.

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my alternate ending twist wrrwrrw
How much money *Spoilers* GardenStatement
Fantastic Film CFairy
Was Roy's Old Doctor (SPOILERS) Azurewraith92
Wow now I dont feel so guilty..lol chicagoridge8
What's with all the cigarette smoking?? 4friedchickensandacoke
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